Chair seat



Feb- 25, 1941- c M. DRINKWATER 2,233,201

CHAIR SEAT Filed DeC. 30, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Figi v 'Z5 I ZO Fell 25,1941- c. M. DRINKWATER 2,233,201

CHAIR SEAT Filed Dec. 50, 1938 5 Sheets-h-Sheet 2 1, f4" ''tll M11 Feb.25, 1941.

c. M. DRINKWATER CHAIR SEAT Filed Dec. so. 1938 2 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 aaienPatented Feb. 25, 1.941'

UiTfED STATES PATENT .OFFICE CHAIR SEAT Application December 30, 1938,Serial No. 248,585

6 Claims.

This invention relates to a chair seat and the like.

An object of the invention is to equip a chair or the like with a seatof extremely simple and inexpensive construction and in which the seatmay be quickly assembled, the seat providing a yielding supportautomatically accommodating persons of light or heavy weight. A furtherobject is to provide a yielding seat member which yields initiallypredominantly in one direction and then at a second stage yieldssimultaneously in two directions. Another object is to provide a chairseat having a resilient seat member which of itself yields under weightbut which is buttressed at certain points with yielding spring supportswhereby an extremely comfortable seat is produced. Another object is toprovide a yielding seat structure wherein edges thereof which areinitially free are brought into contact with supports spaced belowwhereby the edges are pressed against further movement so as to producedifferent directional yielding o-f the seat member. Other specificobjects and advantages will appear as the specification proceeds.

'Ihe invention is illustrated, in preferred embodiments, by theaccompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a front View in elevationof a chair equipped with a seat embodying my invention;

3 Fig. 2, a side View in elevation, the seat portion being shown inlongitudinal section; Fig. 3, a top plan view; Fig. 4, an enlargeddetail sectional view, the section being taken as indicated 'at line 4of Fig. 3; Fig. 5, an enlarged detail sectional view,the section beingtaken as indicated at line 5 of Fig. 3; Fig. 6, a top plan view of amodied form of structure embodying my invention; Fig. 7, a 'sectionalview, the section being taken as indicated at line 1 of Fig. 6; Fig. 8,a top plan view of a second modified form of seat structure embodying myinvention; and Fig. 9, a sectional view, the section being taken asindicated at line 9 of Fig. 8.

In the structure illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5 inelusive, A designates aframe; and B, a yieldable seat carried by the chair frame.

The chair frame may be of any suitable construction. In the illustrationgiven, it 'comprises legs I0, the rear legs I0 being connected by slatsII. 'Ihe four legs are joined near the bottom by stretchers I2. Abovestretchers I2 is the front stretcher or round I3, the rear stretcher I4,and

l the two side stretchers I5. Y

The 'seat stricture B is 'preferably hinged :at

its front end upon some suitable portion of the chair frame A. In theillustration given, I provide a block I6 having a concave lower surfaceI1 resting upon the stretcher I3. The parts are locked together by meansof a metal clamp I8 having one perforated vend secured to the block by ascrew I9.

The seat member 2i), which is secured to the block I6, may be of anysuitable material having high resilient qualities and considerable 10strength. I have found that such a seat member may be satisfactorilyformed of presswood, that is wood which is formed of wood fibers pressedand bonded together so as to form an extremely sturdy but resilientsupport. It will 15 be noted that the board 2D is received within arecess 2I formed in block I6 rearward of the stretcher I3.

As shown more clearly in Figs. 2 and 5, I provide spring means forsupporting the seat mem- 20 ber 20 at a spaced distance above the rearstretcher I4 and the side stretchers I5, the member 2D being supportedalso in its raised position preferably at a slight rearward inclination.The spring means comprises a loop spring 25 member 22 at each side ofthe board 2li, the body of the loop extending inwardly and below themember 20. The outer end of each spring 22 is perforated and secured byrivets 23 to the lateral edge portion of member 20. The lower 30 end ofthe spring 22 is turned to form a loop 24, freely engaging the round orstretcher I5. In the operation of the device, the seat 2i) swings uponthe forward pivot portion I'I downwardly against the force of springs22. The rear 5 side of the seat member 20 then engages the rearstretcher I4 and this causes the yieldable member 20 to bendtransversely under the weight imposed. Further movement causes thelateral edges of the seat member 2D to engage the side stretchers I5 andthis causes the seat to bend or yield under further pressure about Vanimaginary longitudinal axis running from front to rear of the member 20.Thus, in the lower po- 45 sition, the natural resilience `of thepresswood board 20 is utilized to insure further downward movement ofthe seat by engagement of the stationary supports I4 and 22 with therear and lateral edges of the board. The result is a con- 5'0` cavebending of the board, providing an extremely comfortable seat and onethat readily adapts itself t0 a person of light weight as well as to aperson of heavy weight.

is a simple operation to slip the loop portions 24 of springs 22 aboutthe stretchers I5. The clamp I8 is then placed in position after thecurved portion I 1 of block I6 rests upon stretcher I3. After the singlescrew I9 is threaded into position, the seat is firmly secured inposition.

Should the seat structure B or any portion thereof break or should itbecome necessary to repair the same, it is only necessary to withdrawscrew I9 and clamp I8, whereby the seat B can be replaced, repaired, andit or the new seat again secured in position.

It will be noted that the spring member 22 and the loop portion 24thereof freely engage the side rounds I5 so that during the swingingmovement of the seat board 20, the loop vportion23 is free to creep orrotate upon the bar I5.

In the structure shown in Figs. 6 and?, the

resilient seat 2|]a is provided centrally on its' lower side with aspring metal strap `25, the strap being secured to the board 20a at thetwo points indicated by rivets `2li. The AVfront end of the springmember 25 is turned downwardly and forwardly at its end to form a springarm 21 engaging the front stretcher I3. The rear end of the springmember 25 is turned downwardly to provide a spring arm 28 'adapted toextend under and engage the rear stretcher I4. I prefer to turn the endof the arm `28 slightly forwardly at 29 so as to facilitate the assemblyof the seat with the chair. If desired, however, the shape of the arms21 and 28 may be reversed. It will be observed that in this structurealso, the sides of the resilient member 28a extend well over the sidestretchers I5 and are spaced thereabove, y

In the operation of the structure shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the member20a, reinforced by spring 25, yields under weight, the bending beingtransversely of the seat until the sides of the member 2|)a strike thestretchers I 5 spaced therebelow. Further movementI of the member 252Lcauses the member to bend not only transversely but longitudinally sothat again a dished eifect is produced, thus producing a sturdiersupport for the member 28 under the increasedweight while at the sametime affording greater comfort. If .desired, a substantial portion ofthe vmetal spring 25 between the rivets 2B may be eliminated and thepressed board 20a relied upon for the resilience and support desired.The structure still provides the arms 21 and 28 by which the board issecured upon stretchers I3 and I4. With the arms arranged as shown, itwill be observed that the ends of the board 2l!a can freely pivot aboutthe stretchers I3 and I4. Y `v In the assembly operation, it is onlynecessary to thrust the arm 21 below the forward stretcher I3 and thento draw the rear arm 28 forwardly so as to permit it to slide under andbelow the stretcher I4. The operation is extremely simple and one thatcan be carried on with great speed in an assembly plant. Likewise, thestructure can be readily disassembled, the arm 28 being drawn forward topermit the rear portion of seat 20a to be lifted 01T to round I4 andtheseat 2!)a may then be drawn rearwardly to remove lit from engagementwith stretcher I3. In the modification shown in Figs. Sand 9, theresilient board 2l!h is secured at its front end to the stretcher I3andl at its rear end to the stretcher I4, over-sized holes 3D beingformed in the board 2l)b for receiving the attachment screws 3l. 'Iheenlarged openings 30 are sufciently large .to permit exing of `the1board2l)b when the board is depressed lthrough the pre-y determined distance.The lateral edges of the board 2Gb then engage the stretchers I5 andfurther downward movement produces a ilexure which is not onlytransverse of the board but longitudinal thereof. The enlarged openings30 accommodate both directional movements.

In all the modifications, the structure employed is extremely simple,permitting rapid assembly and ready removal for repair or substitution,while at the same time affording a two-stage iexure of the seatstructure affording greater strength for the resilient seat board andproviding greater comfort for the occupant. be noted that the sidestretchers I5 which are illustrated as below the stretchers I3 and I4may just as readily be placed above the stretchers I3 and I4, wherebythe resilient seatlboard would be initially supported by the stretchersI5 and come into contact with the other stretchers only after the rstbending phase of movement. Other similarA reversals of arrangements ,andother It Will' changes in details may be madewithin relatively spivotally supported upon'the front stretcher, re-

leasable clamping means for securing said seat member upon said frontstretcher, and spring members secured to said seat member and havingloop portions engaging said'. side stretchers for supporting the rearedge of said seat member above said rear stretcher.

2. In combination with a chair frame, having front, rear andsidestretchers, a block member having a curved portion and extendingover said frontstretcher, aclarnp member extending Vunder said stretcherandv releas'ably secured to said block, a resilient seat member securedto said block member and extending rearwardly over Isaid side. and rearstretcher members, land a loop spring on each side of 'said rseat memberand secured to the bottom portion thereof, said spring having a curvedportion engaging a side stretcher, the main loop portion .of said springextending inwardly of said stretchers. k

3. In combination with a chair frame, having Y front, rear and sidestretchers, itwo of said when .in engagement with Vsaid-lowerstretchers.-

4. In combination with a chair frame, a pair of parallel stretchersspaced below'and at leastV one stretcher thereabove, a resilient-seatboard support pivotally supported upon said framel and engaging saidftopstretcher, `said board support being sufficiently flexible under theweight of the occupant to bring the side edges thereof into engagementwith said lower stretchers and yielding both transversely andlongitudinally when in engagement with said lower stretchers.

5. In combination with a chair frame, having at least one upperstretcher and a pair of stretchers spaced therebelow, a resilientpresswood seat board supported upon said stretchers for pivotal movementthereon, said board being sufficiently flexible under the weight of anoccupant to bring the said edges thereof into engagement with said lowerstretchers and yielding both transversely and longitudinally when inengagement with said lower stretchers.

6. In combination with a seat frame, a pair of parallel stretchersspaced below and at least one stretcher thereabo-ve, a resilient seatboard support pivotally supported upon said frame and engaging said topstretcher, said board support being sufficiently flexible under theweight of the occupant to bring the side edges thereof into engagementwith said lower stretchers and yielding both transversely andlongitudinally when in engagement with said lower stretchers, and aspring strap secured to the bottom portion of said seat board :andhaving spring end portions engaging oppositely disposed parallelstretchers to lock said board thereon.

CHARLES M. DRllNKWATER.

